COLUMBUS (December 7, 2001) – Governor Bob Taft today recognized the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) for its efforts in developing recommendations to President Bush to provide relief from imports for the U.S. steel industry. The recommendations by the USITC conclude the second of three phases of the Section 201 investigation process. Earlier this year, Governor Taft urged President Bush, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick and Commerce Secretary Donald Evans to initiate a Section 201 investigation and convene multilateral negotiations to find ways to address the chronic overcapacity in international steel markets. Phase one of the Section 201 investigation concluded that imports have seriously injured U.S. steel producers. The final phase calls on the President to implement a relief plan. “President Bush and I have consistently supported the steel industry,” Taft said. “I have every confidence he will fully consider the recommendations now before him and adopt a relief plan that levels the international playing field for the domestic steel industry. I have asked the Bush Administration to act quickly on these recommendations to ensure that our steel companies and our economy do not suffer additional damage.” Since 1996, the amount of steel imported into the U.S. has grown from 27.7 million short tons to 36.4 million short tons. The price has fallen from more than $350 per ton to less than $250 per ton. Since September 2000, Ohio’s steel industry has lost 10 percent of its workforce and steel production has fallen 16.5 percent. The Taft Administration has committed state funds to assist steel companies with capital investments, the acquisition of pollution control equipment, the acquisition of key manufacturing equipment and training for industry workers.